The emirate of Abu Dhabi announced on Wednesday it will donate $25 million over 5 years to an organization dedicated to eradicating malaria, the Roll Back Malaria Partnership (RBM).
According to WAM, the emirate’s official news agency, the government of Abu Dhabi, through this donation, aims to contribute to the worldwide eradication of malaria and to the realization of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by 2015.
We are grateful to the Government of Abu Dhabi for this support. It provides a tangible boost to the RBM Partnership and sends an important message of encouragement to the international malaria community
“We are grateful to the Government of Abu Dhabi for this support. It provides a tangible boost to the RBM Partnership and sends an important message of encouragement to the international malaria community,” said Awa-Marie Coll-Seck, executive director of RBM, during her visit to the emirate.
Founded by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, World Bank, the United Nations Development Program, and the cooperation of over 500 partnership organizations, RBM formulates policy directives, provides financial and technical support to countries, and follows all progress related to the organization’s universal goals related to malaria.
Malaria is caused by a parasite called Plasmodium, which is transmitted via the bites of infected mosquitoes. If not treated, malaria can quickly become life-threatening by disrupting blood supply to vital organs.
WHO estimates there were 243 million cases of malaria worldwide in 2008, 863,000 of which resulted in deaths. Africa is the continent by far the most affected.
Over half of the world's population is at risk of contracting malaria but the disease hits the poor, particularly pregnant women and children, the hardest. The UAE is certified by WHO as a Malaria Free country.
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